U.S. patent number 5,177,792 [Application Number 07/707,535] was granted by the patent office on 1993-01-05 for collation of a streaked pattern at a high speed.
This patent grant is currently assigned to NEC Corporation. Invention is credited to Koichiro Morita.
United States Patent |
5,177,792 |
Morita |
January 5, 1993 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Collation of a streaked pattern at a high speed
Abstract
On collating an input streaked pattern (fingerprint) with a
reference streaked pattern, a local streak direction is extracted
from a local area defined in the input streaked pattern by one of
reference feature positions of reference feature points of the
reference streaked pattern. Direction coincidence or
non-coincidence is checked by comparing the extracted streak
direction with a reference streak direction at the above-mentioned
one reference feature position. If direction coincident, the
presence or absence of one of the input feature points of the input
streaked pattern is confirmed in the local area. If present,
pattern coincidence is judged when a count of the input feature
points reaches a threshold value. If the value is not reached,
collation repeat and pattern non-coincidence is judged when all
reference feature positions and streak directions are not yet or
already used in extraction and subsequent check, respectively. If
direction non-coincident, if absent, or if the collation should be
repeated, extraction and check are continued by using different
reference feature positions and streak directions. Preferably, the
above-mentioned one reference feature position is used together
with a position of an adjacent reference point and additionally
with the number of reference streaks between the reference feature
point and the adjacent reference feature point.
Inventors: |
Morita; Koichiro (Tokyo,
JP) |
Assignee: |
NEC Corporation (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
27318055 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/707,535 |
Filed: |
May 30, 1991 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
May 30, 1990 [JP] |
|
|
2-140389 |
Nov 14, 1990 [JP] |
|
|
2-307990 |
Nov 22, 1990 [JP] |
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2-320077 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
382/125;
382/197 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07C
9/37 (20200101); G06K 9/00087 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07C
9/00 (20060101); G06K 9/00 (20060101); G06K
009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;382/4,5,34 ;356/71 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Goldstein; Herbert
Assistant Examiner: Jung; Yon
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue, Mion, Zinn, Macpeak &
Seas
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A streaked pattern collating apparatus comprising a collating
unit supplied with an input pattern signal representative of an
input streaked pattern featured by a plurality of input feature
points, said collating unit being for carrying out collation
between said input streaked pattern and a reference streaked
pattern in connection with a predetermined number of reference
feature points which feature said reference feature pattern by
reference feature positions and reference streak directions, said
collating unit producing collation coincidence and collation
non-coincidence signals representing coincidence and
non-coincidence between said input and said reference streaked
patterns, said collating unit comprising:
memorizing means for memorizing said reference feature positions as
memorized positions and said reference streak directions as
memorized directions in correspondence to said reference feature
points;
reading means connected to said memorizing means for reading from
said memorizing means, as a read-out feature position, a particular
one of said memorized positions that corresponds to a particular
one of said reference feature points and for reading from said
memorizing means, as a read-out streak direction, a particular one
of said memorized directions that corresponds to said particular
one of the reference feature points;
direction extracting means connected to said reading means and
supplied with said input pattern signal for extracting, as an
extracted streak direction, a local streak direction from a local
area defined by said read-out feature position in said input
streaked pattern;
direction comparing means connected to said reading and said
direction extracting means for comparing said extracted streak
direction with said read-out streak direction to produce direction
coincidence and direction non-coincidence signals representing
coincidence and non-coincidence between said extracted streak
direction and said read-out streak direction;
confirming means connected to said reading and said direction
comparing means and supplied with said input pattern signal for
confirming, in response to said direction coincidence signal,
whether or not one of said input feature points is present in said
local area, said confirming means producing presence confirmed and
presence non-confirmed signals representing presence and absence of
said one of the input feature points in said local area;
primary counting means connected to said confirming means and
having a primary initial count equal to zero for counting up said
primary initial count to a primary increased count whenever said
presence confirmed signal is produced, said primary counting means
producing a primary count signal representative of said primary
increased count;
primary count comparing means connected to said primary counting
means and having a primary threshold value for comparing said
primary increased count with said primary threshold value, said
primary threshold value being greater than said primary initial
count and not greater than said predetermined number of reference
feature points, said primary count comparing means producing first
and second primary compared result signals when said primary
increased count is less than said primary threshold value and when
said primary increased count is not less than said primary
threshold value, respectively, said second primary compared result
signal being for use as said collation coincidence signal; and
primary judging means connected to said memorizing, said reading,
said direction comparing, said confirming, and said primary count
comparing means for judging, in response to each of said direction
non-coincidence signal, said presence non-confirmed signal, and
said first primary compared result signal, whether or not all of
said memorized positions and all of said memorized directions are
already read from said memorizing means, said primary judging means
producing an end signal and a non-end signal when all of said
memorized positions and all of said memorized directions are
already read and are not yet read from said memorizing means,
respectively, said end signal being for use as said collation
non-coincidence signal;
said reading means being responsive to said non-end signal for
reading from said memorizing means, as said read-out feature
position, a different one of said memorized positions that
corresponds to a different one of said reference feature points and
for reading from said memorizing means, as said read-out streak
direction, a different one of said memorized directions that
corresponds to said different one of the reference feature
points;
said direction comparing means producing said direction coincidence
and said direction non-coincidence signals when said extracted
streak direction and said read-out streak direction form an angle
which is not and is greater than a prescribed angle.
2. A streaked pattern collating apparatus as claimed in claim 1,
wherein:
said memorizing means is for memorizing said memorized positions,
said memorized directions, and adjacent ones of said reference
feature points as memorized adjacent feature points in
correspondence to said reference feature points, said adjacent ones
of the reference feature points being nearest to said reference
feature points, respectively;
said reading means being for reading from said memorizing means
said particular one of the memorized points as said read-out
feature position, said particular one of the memorized directions
as said read-out streak direction, and a particular one of said
memorized adjacent feature points as a read-out adjacent feature
point, said particular one of the memorized adjacent feature points
corresponding to said particular one of the reference feature
points;
said primary judging means producing, as said non-end signal, a
point indication signal indicative of a specific one of said
reference feature points when said primary judging means judges in
response to said first primary compared result signal that all of
said memorized positions and all of said memorized directions are
not yet read from said memorizing means, said specific one of the
reference feature points corresponding to said read-out adjacent
feature point;
said reading means being responsive to said point indication signal
for reading from said memorizing means, as said different one of
the memorized positions, a specific one of said memorized positions
that corresponds to said specific one of the reference feature
points, for reading from said memorizing means, as said different
one of the memorized directions, a specific one of said memorized
directions that corresponds to said specific one of the reference
feature points, and for reading from said memorizing means a
specific one of said memorized adjacent feature points that
corresponds to said specific one of the reference feature points,
said reading means producing said specific one of the memorized
positions, said specific one of the memorized directions, and said
specific one of the memorized adjacent feature points as said read
out feature position, said read out streak direction, and said
read-out adjacent feature point, respectively.
3. A streaked pattern collating apparatus as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said primary judging means comprises:
secondary counting means connected to said direction comparing and
said confirming means and having a secondary initial count equal to
zero for counting up said secondary initial count to a secondary
increased count whenever each of said direction non-coincidence
signal and said presence non-confirmed signal is produced, said
secondary counting means producing a secondary count signal
representative of said secondary increased count;
secondary count comparing means connected to said secondary
counting means and having a secondary threshold value for comparing
said secondary increased count with said secondary threshold value,
said secondary threshold value being greater than said secondary
initial count and not greater than said predetermined number of
feature points, said secondary cont comparing means producing first
and second secondary compared result signals when said secondary
increased count is less than said secondary threshold value and
where said secondary increased count is not less than said
secondary threshold value, respectively, said second secondary
compared result signal being for use as said collation
non-coincidence signal; and
secondary judging means connected to said secondary count comparing
means for judging, in response to said first secondary compared
result signal, whether or not all of said memorized positions and
all of said memorized directions are already read from said
memorizing means, said secondary judging means producing said end
signal and said non-end signal when all of said memorized positions
and all of said memorized directions are already read and are not
yet read from said memorizing means, respectively.
4. A streaked pattern collating apparatus comprising a collating
unit supplied with an input pattern signal representative of an
input streaked pattern featured by a plurality of input feature
points, said collating unit being for carrying out collation
between said input streaked pattern and a reference streaked
pattern in connection with a predetermined number of reference
feature points which feature said reference feature pattern by
reference feature positions and reference streak directions, said
collating unit producing collation coincidence and collation
non-coincidence signals representing coincidence and
non-coincidence between said input and said reference streaked
patterns, said collating unit comprising:
memorizing means for memorizing said reference feature positions as
memorized positions, said reference streak directions as memorized
directions, and adjacent positions of adjacent ones of said
reference feature points as memorized adjacent positions in
correspondence to said reference feature points, said adjacent ones
of the reference feature points being nearest to said reference
feature points, respectively;
reading means connected to said memorizing means for reading from
said memorizing means, as a read-out feature position, a particular
one of said memorized positions that corresponds to a particular
one of said reference feature points, for reading from said
memorizing means, as a read-out streak direction, a particular one
of said memorized directions that corresponds to said particular
one of the reference feature points, and for reading from said
memorizing means, as a read-out adjacent position, a particular one
of said memorized adjacent positions that corresponds to said
particular one of the reference feature points;
direction extracting means connected to said reading means and
supplied with said input pattern signal for extracting, as an
extracted streak direction, a local streak direction from a local
area defined by said read-out feature position in said input
streaked pattern;
direction comparing means connected to said reading and said
direction extracting means for comparing said extracted streak
direction with said read-out streak direction to produce direction
coincidence and direction non-coincidence signals representing
coincidence and non-coincidence between said extracted streak
direction and said read-out streak direction;
first confirming means connected to said reading and said direction
comparing means and supplied with said input pattern signal for
confirming, in response to said direction coincidence signal,
whether or not a particular one of said input feature points is
present in said local area, said first confirming means producing
first presence confirmed and first presence non-confirmed signals
representing presence and absence of said particular one of the
input feature points in said local area;
second confirming means connected to said reading and said first
confirming means and supplied with said input pattern signal for
confirming, in response to said first presence confirmed signal,
whether or not a different one of said input feature points is
present in a different local area defined by said read-out adjacent
position in said input streaked pattern, said second confirming
means producing second presence confirmed and second presence
non-confirmed signals representing presence and absence of said
different one of the input feature points in said different local
area;
primary counting means connected to said second confirming means
and having a primary initial count equal to zero for counting up
said primary initial count to a primary increased count whenever
said second presence confirmed signal is produced, said primary
counting means producing a primary count signal representative of
said primary increased count;
primary count comparing means connected to said primary counting
means and having a primary threshold value for comparing said
primary increased count with said primary threshold value, said
primary threshold value being greater than said primary initial
count and not greater than said predetermined number of reference
feature points, said primary count comparing means producing first
and second primary compared result signals when said primary
increased count is less than said primary threshold value and when
said primary increased count is not less than said primary
threshold value, respectively, said second primary compared result
signal being for use as said collation coincidence signal; and
primary judging means connected to said memorizing, said reading,
said direction comparing, said first and said second confirming,
and said primary count comparing means for judging, in response to
each of said direction non-coincidence signal, said first and said
second presence non-confirmed signals, and said first primary
compared result signal, whether or not all of said memorized
positions and all of said memorized directions are already read
from said memorizing means, said primary judging means producing an
end signal and a non-end signal when all of said memorized
positions and all of said memorized directions are already read and
are not yet read from said memorizing means, respectively, said end
signal being for use as said collation non-coincidence signal;
said reading means being responsive to said non-end signal for
reading from said memorizing means, as said read-out feature
position, a different one of said memorized positions that
corresponds to a different one of said reference feature points,
for reading from said memorizing means, as said read-out streak
direction, a different one of said memorized directions that
corresponds to said different one of the reference feature points,
and for reading from said memorizing means, as said read-out
adjacent position, a different one of said memorized adjacent
positions that corresponds to said different one of the reference
feature points.
5. A streaked pattern collating apparatus as claimed in claim 4,
wherein said direction comparing means produces said direction
coincidence and said direction non-coincidence signals when said
extracted streak direction and said read-out streak direction form
an angle which is not and is greater than a prescribed angle.
6. A streaked pattern collating apparatus as claimed in claim 4,
wherein said primary judging means comprises:
secondary counting means connected to said direction comparing and
said confirming means and having a secondary initial count equal to
zero for counting up said secondary initial count to a secondary
increased count whenever each of said direction non-coincidence
signal and said first and said second presence non-confirmed
signals is produced, said secondary counting means producing a
secondary count signal representative of said secondary increased
count;
secondary count comparing means connected to said secondary
counting means and having a secondary threshold value for comparing
said secondary increased count with said secondary threshold value,
said secondary threshold value being greater than said secondary
initial count and not greater than said predetermined number of
feature points, said secondary count comparing means producing
first and second secondary compared result signals when said
secondary increased count is less than said secondary threshold
value and when said secondary increased count is not less than said
secondary threshold value, respectively, said second secondary
compared result signal being for use as said collation
non-coincidence signal; and
secondary judging means connected to said secondary count comparing
means for judging, in response to said first secondary compared
result signal, whether or not all of said memorized positions and
all of said memorized directions are already read from said
memorizing means, said secondary judging means producing said end
signal and said non-end signal when all of said memorized positions
and all of said memorized directions are already read and are not
yet read from said memorizing means.
7. A streaked pattern collating apparatus comprising a collating
unit supplied with an input pattern signal representative of an
input streaked pattern featured by a plurality of input feature
points, said collating unit being for carrying out collation
between said input streaked pattern and a reference streaked
pattern in connection with a predetermined number of reference
feature points which feature said reference feature pattern by
reference feature positions and reference streak directions, said
collating unit producing collation coincidence and collation
non-coincidence signals representing coincidence and
non-coincidence betwen said input and said reference streaked
patterns, said collating unit comprising:
memorizing means for memorizing said reference feature positions as
memorized positions, said reference streak directions as memorized
directions, adjacent positions of adjacent ones of said reference
feature points as memorized adjacent positions, and local reference
streak numbers as memorized numbers in correspondence to said
reference feature points, said adjacent ones of the reference
feature points being nearest to said reference feature points,
respectively, each of said local reference streak numbers
representing the number of local reference streaks between each of
said reference feature points and one of said adjacent ones of the
reference feature points that corresponds to said each of the
reference feature points;
reading means connected to said memorizing means for reading from
said memorizing means, as a read-out feature position, a particular
one of said memorized positions that corresponds to a particular
one of said reference feature points, for reading from said
memorizing means, as a read-out streak direction, a particular one
of said memorized directions that corresponds to said particular
one of the reference feature pints, and for reading from said
memorizing means, as a read-out adjacent position, a particular one
of said memorized adjacent positions that corresponds to said
particular one of the reference feature points, and for reading
from said memorizing means, as a read-out local reference streak
number, a particular one of said memorized numbers that corresponds
to said particular one of the reference feature points;
direction extracting means connected to said reading means and
supplied with said input pattern signal for extracting, as an
extracted streak direction, a local streak direction from a local
area defined by said read-out feature position in said input
streaked pattern;
direction comparing means connected to said reading and said
direction extracting means for comparing said extracted streak
direction with said read-out streak direction to produce direction
coincidence and direction non-coincidence signals representing
coincidence and non-coincidence between said extracted streak
direction and said read-out streak direction;
first confirming means connected to said reading and said direction
comparing means and supplied with said input pattern signal for
confirming, in response to said direction coincidence signal,
whether or not a particular one of said input feature points is
present in said local area, said first confirming means producing
first presence confirmed and first presence non-confirmed signals
representing presence and absence of said particular one of the
input feature points in said local area;
second confirming means connected to said reading and said first
confirming means and supplied with said input pattern signal for
confirming, in response to said first presence confirmed signal,
whether or not a different one of said input feature points is
present in a different local area defined by said read-out adjacent
position in said input streaked pattern, said second confirming
means producing second presence confirmed and second presence
non-confirmed signals representing presence and absence of said
different one of the input feature points in said different local
area;
number extracting means connected to said reading and said second
confirming means and supplied with said input pattern signal for
extracting in response to said second presence confirmed signal, as
an extracted local input streak number, the number of local input
streaks between said particular one of the input feature points and
said different one of the input feature points in said input
streaked pattern;
number comparing means connected to said reading and said number
extracting means for comparing said extracted local input streak
number with said read-out local reference streak number to produce
number coincidence and number non-coincidence signals representing
coincidence and non-coincidence between said extracted local input
streak number and said read-out local reference streak number;
primary counting means connected to said number comparing means and
having a primary initial count equal to zero for counting up said
primary initial count to a primary increased count whenever said
number coincidence signal is produced, said primary counting means
producing a primary count signal representative of said primary
increased count;
primary count comparing means connected to said primary counting
means and having a primary threshold value for comparing said
primary increased count with said primary threshold value, said
primary threshold value being greater than said primary inital
count and not greater than said predetermined number of reference
feature points, said primary count comparing means producing first
and second primary compared result signals when said primary
increased count is less than said primary threshold value and when
said primary increased count is not less than said primary
threshold value, respectively, said second primary compared result
signal being for use as said collation coincidence signal; and
primary judging means connected to said memorizing, said reading,
said direction comparing, said first and said second confirming,
said number comparing, and said primary count comparing means for
judging, in response to each of said direction non-coincidence
signal, said first and said second presence non-confirmed signals,
said number non-coincidence signal, and said first primary compared
result signal, whether or not all of said memorized positions and
all of said memorized directions are already read from said
memorizing mens, said primary judging means producing an end signal
and a non-end signal when all of said memorized positions and all
of said memorized directions are already read and are not yet read
from said memorizing means, respectively, said end signal being for
use as said collation non-coincidence signal;
said reading means being responsive to said non-end signal for
reading from said memorizing means, as said read-out feature
position, a different one of said memorized positions that
corresponds to a different one of said reference feature points,
for reading from said memorizing means, as said read-out streak
direction, a different one of said memorized directions that
corresponds to said different one of the reference feature points,
for reading from said memorizing means, as said read-out adjacent
position, a different one of said memorized adjacent positions that
corresponds to said different one of the reference feature points,
and for reading from said memorizing means, as said read-out local
reference streak number, a different one of said memorized numbers
that corresponds to said different one of the reference feature
points.
8. A streaked pattern collating apparatus as claimed in claim 7,
wherein said direction comparing means produces said direction
coincidence and said direction non-coincidence signals when said
extracted streak direction and said read-out streak direction form
an angle which is not and is greater than a prescribed angle.
9. A streaked pattern collating apparatus as claimed in claim 7,
wherein said primary judging means comprises:
secondary counting means connected to said direction comparing and
said confirming means and having a secondary initial count equal to
zero for counting up said secondary initial count to a secondary
increased count whenever each of said direction non-coincidence
signal, said first and said second presence non-confirmed signals,
and said number non-coincidence signal is produced, said secondary
counting means producing a secondary count signal representative of
said secondary increased count;
secondary count comparing means connected to said secondary
counting means for having a secondary threshold value for comparing
said secondary increased count with said secondary threshold value,
said secondary threshold value being greater than said secondary
initial count and not greater than said predetermined number of
feature points, said secondary count comparing means producing
first and second secondary compared result signals when said
secondary increased count is less than said secondary threshold
value and when said secondary increased count is not less than said
secondary threshold value, respectively, said second secondary
compared result signal being for use as said collation
non-coincidence signal; and
secondary judging means connected to said secondary count comparing
means for judging, in response to said first secondary compared
result signal, whether or not all of said memorized positions an
all of said memorized directions are already read from said
memorizing means, said secondary judging means producing said end
signal and said non-end signal when all of said memorized positions
and all of said memorized directions are already read and are not
yet read from said memorizing means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a streaked pattern collating apparatus.
As herein called, a streaked pattern is typically a fingerprint and
may be a pattern drawn by a skilled technician after either a faint
fingerprint remain or a latent fingerprint.
The streaked pattern collating apparatus comprises a collating unit
supplied with an input pattern signal representative of an input
streaked pattern having input streaks which are featured by a
plurality of input feature points. The collating unit is for
carrying out collation between the input streaked pattern and a
reference streaked pattern having reference streaks in connection
with a predetermined number of reference feature points which
feature the reference streaks by reference feature positions and
reference streak directions. The collating unit thereby produces a
collation coincidence signal and a collation non-coincidence signal
when the input streaked pattern coincides with the reference
streaked pattern and when the input streaked pattern does not
coincide with the reference streaked pattern, respectively. In
other words, the collation coincidence and the collation
non-coincidence signals represent coincidence and non-coincidence
between the input and the reference streaked patterns,
respectively.
The collating unit generally comprises a work memory for memorizing
the reference feature positions as memorized points and the
reference streak directions as memorized directions in
correspondence to the reference feature points. Connected to the
work memory, a reading section reads from the work memory, as a
read-out feature position, one of the memorized positions that
corresponds to one of the reference feature points. Simultaneously,
the reading section reads from the work memory, as a read-out
streak direction, one of the memorized directions that corresponds
to the above-mentioned one of the reference feature points.
Connected to the reading section and supplied with the input
pattern signal, a confirming section confirms whether or not one of
the input feature points is present in a local area defined by the
read-out feature position in the input streaked pattern. More
specifically, the local area has a rectangular shape defined by the
read-out streak direction in the manner which will become clear as
the description proceeds. The confirming section thereby produces a
presence confirmed signal and a presence non-confirmed signal when
the above-mentioned one of the input feature points is present in
the local area and when the above-mentioned one of the input
feature points is not present in the local area, respectively.
A counting section is connected to the confirming section and has
an initial count equal to zero. The counting section counts up the
initial count to an increased count whenever the presence confirmed
signal is produced. The counting section thereby produces a count
signal representative of the increased count.
A count comparing section is connected to the counting section and
has a threshold value. The count comparing section compares the
increased count with the threshold value. The threshold value is
greater than the initial count and is either equal to or less than
the predetermined number of the reference feature points. The count
comparing section thereby produces first and second compared result
signals when the increased count is and is not less than the
threshold value, respectively. The second compared result signal is
for use as the collation coincidence signal.
Connected to the work memory and the reading, the confirming, and
the count comparing sections, a judging section judges, in response
to each of the presence non-confirmed signal and the first compared
result signal, whether or not all of the memorized positions and
all of the memorized directions are already read from the work
memory. The judging section thereby produces an end signal and a
non-end signal when all of the memorized positions and all of the
memorized directions are already read and are not yet read from the
work memory, respectively. The end signal is for use as the
collation non-coincidence signal.
Responsive to the non-end signal, the reading section reads from
the work memory, as the read-out feature position, a different one
of the memorized positions that corresponds to a difference one of
the reference feature points. Simultaneously, the reading section
reads from the work memory, as the read-out streak direction, a
different one of the memorized directions that corresponds to the
different one of the reference feature points.
The streaked pattern collating apparatus is defective in that it is
not possible to carry out the collation at a high speed. This is
because the confirming section operates even in a case where the
read-out streak direction does not coincide with a local streak
direction of a part of the input streaks that is included in the
local area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a streaked
pattern collating apparatus which can carry out collation of a
streaked pattern at a high speed.
Other objects of this invention will become clear as the
description proceeds.
On describing the gist of this invention, it is possible to
understand that a streaked pattern collating apparatus comprises a
collating unit supplied with an input pattern signal representative
of an input streaked pattern featured by a plurality of input
feature points. The collating unit is for carrying out collation
between the input streaked pattern and a reference streaked pattern
in connection with a predetermined number of reference feature
points which feature the reference feature pattern by reference
feature positions and reference streak directions. The collating
unit produces collation coincidence and collation non-coincidence
signals representing coincidence and non-coincidence between the
input and the reference streaked patterns.
According to this invention, the collating unit comprises in the
above-understood streaked pattern collating apparatus: (A)
memorizing means for memorizing the reference feature positions as
memorized positions and the reference streak directions as
memorized directions in correspondence to the reference feature
points; (B) reading means connected to the memorizing means for
reading from the memorizing means, as a read-out feature position,
a particular one of the memorized positions that corresponds to a
particular one of the reference feature points and for reading from
the memorizing means, as a read-out streak direction, a particular
one of the memorized directions that corresponds to the particular
one of the reference feature points; (C) direction extracting means
connected to the reading means and supplied with the input pattern
signal for extracting, as an extracted streak direction, a local
streak direction from a local area defined by the read-out feature
position in the input streaked pattern; (D) direction comparing
means connected to the reading and the direction extracting means
for comparing the extracted streak direction with the read-out
streak direction to produce direction coincidence and direction
non-coincidence signals representing coincidence and
non-coincidence between the extracted streak direction and the
read-out streak direction; (E) confirming means connected to the
reading and the direction comparing means and supplied with the
input pattern signal for confirming, in response to the direction
coincidence signal, whether or not one of the input feature points
is present in the local area, the confirming means producing
presence confirmed and presence non-confirmed signals representing
presence and absence of the above-mentioned one of the input
feature points in the local area; (F) primary counting means
connected to the confirming means and having a primary initial
count equal to zero for counting up the primary initial count to a
primary increased count whenever the presence confirmed signal is
produced, the primary counting means producing a primary count
signal representative of the primary increased count; (G) primary
count comparing means connected to the primary counting means and
having a primary threshold value for comparing the primary
increased count with the primary threshold value, the primary
threshold value being greater than the primary initial count and
not greater than the predetermined number of reference feature
points, the primary count comparing means producing first and
second primary compared result signals when the primary increased
count is and is not less than the primary threshold value,
respectively, the second primary compared result signal being for
use as the collation coincidence signal; and (H) primary judging
means connected to the memorizing, the reading, the direction
comparing, the confirming, and the primary count comparing means
for judging, in response to each of the direction non-coincidence
signal, the presence non-confirmed signal, and the first primary
compared result signal, whether or not all of the memorized
positions and all of the memorized directions are already read from
the memorizing means. The primary judging means produces an end
signal and a non-end signal when all of the memorized positions and
all of the memorized directions are already read and are not yet
read from the memorizing means, respectively. The end signal is for
use as the collation non-coincidence signal. The reading means is
responsive to the non-end signal for reading from the memorizing
means, as the read-out feature position, a different one of the
memorized positions that corresponds to a different one of the
reference feature points and for reading from the memorizing means,
as the read-out streak direction, a different one of the memorized
directions that correspond to the different one of the reference
feature points.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a streaked pattern collating apparatus
according to an embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram for use in describing a reference streaked
pattern;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for use in describing a work memory of a
collating unit included in the streaked pattern collating apparatus
illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram for use in describing a file included in
the streaked pattern collating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a flow chart for use in describing operation of the
streaked pattern collating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a diagram for use in describing operation of the streaked
pattern collating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is another diagram for use in describing operation of the
streaked pattern collating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is still another diagram for use in describing operation of
the streaked pattern collating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a partial flow chart for use in describing a different
mode of operation of the streaked pattern collating apparatus
illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a flow chart for use in describing a different operation
of the streaked pattern collating apparatus illustrated in FIG.
1;
FIG. 11 is a block diagram for use in describing another work
memory which can be used in a collating unit included in the
streaked pattern collating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 12 is a flow chart for use in describing a further different
operation of the streaked pattern collating apparatus illustrated
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 13 is a block diagram for use in describing still another work
memory which can be used in a collating unit included in the
streaked pattern collating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 14 is a flow chart for use in describing a still further
different operation of the streaked pattern collating apparatus
illustrated in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 15 is a block diagram for use in describing a different work
memory which can be used in a collating unit included in the
streaked pattern apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, a streaked pattern collating apparatus
according to a preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a
collating unit 30 supplied with an input pattern signal 31
representative of an input streaked pattern which has input streaks
and which are featured by a plurality of input feature points. A
reference streaked pattern has reference streaks. The collating
unit 30 is for carrying out collation between the input streaked
pattern and the reference streaked pattern in connection with a
predetermined number N (N representing an integer greater than one)
of reference feature points M1, . . . , and MN which feature the
reference feature pattern by reference feature positions (X1, Y1) ,
. . . , and (XN,YN) and reference streak directions D1, . . . , and
DN. When a streaked pattern is a fingerprint, streaks and named
ridges. Futhermore, feature points are called minutiae.
The collating unit 30 produces, as a collation result signal 32, a
collation coincidence signal and a collation non-coincidence signal
when the input streaked pattern coincides with the reference
feature streaked pattern and when the input streaked pattern does
not coincide with the reference feature streaked pattern,
respectively. The collation coincidence and the collation
non-coincidence signals represents coincidence and non-coincidence
between the input and the reference streaked patterns,
respectively.
Turning to FIG. 2, a partial pattern of the reference streaked
pattern has the reference feature points M1, M2, and M3, each of
which is an abrupt ending of a streak. The partial pattern futher
has the reference feature points M4 and M5, each of which is a
bifurcation of a streak. The reference streaked pattern may have a
crosspoint of two or more streaks as one of the reference feature
points when the streaked pattern is a general streaked pattern
other than a fingerprint.
The reference feature points M1 to M5 have the respective reference
feature positions (X1,Y1) to (X5,Y5) on an X-Y coordinate system
defined on the reference streaked pattern. As described in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,310,827 issued to Koh Asai and assigned to NEC
Corporation, each of the reference directions D1 to D5 of the
reference feature points M1 to M5 is defined by a direction vector
extended from the reference feature point under consideration. It
will be assumed that each of the reference directions D1 to D5 of
the reference feature points M1 to M5 is represented by an angle
defined from a line parallel to an X-axis of the X-Y coordinate
system to the direction vector of the reference feature point in a
counterclockwise direction on the X-Y coordinate system.
Referring to FIG. 3 afresh and FIG. 1 again, the collating unit 30
comprises a work memory 33 for memorizing a feature point list for
the reference streaked pattern as a memorized list. More
specifically, the work memory 33 memorizes the reference feature
positions (X1,Y1) to (XN,YN) as memorized positions and the
reference streak directions D1 to DN as memorized directions in
correspondence to the reference feature points M1 to MN.
In FIG. 1, the collating unit 30 further comprises a program memory
34 for memorizing an operation program. A CPU (central processing
unit) 35 is connected to the work memory 33 and the program memory
34. Supplied with the input pattern signal 31 through an I/O
(input/output) interface 36, the CPU 35 carries out the collation
under control of the operation program and produces the collation
result signal 32 through the I/O interface 36 in the manner which
will later be described.
The streaked pattern collating apparatus further comprises a
controller 40 and an input device 41 which produces, under control
of the controller 40, a two-dimensional photoelectrically converted
image of an object pattern. The input device 41 is known in the
art. Connected to the input device 41, an A/D (analog/digital)
converter 42 converts the two-dimensional photoelectrically
converted image into a digital (namely, guantized) image signal.
The controller 40 stores the digital image signal in an image
memory 43 as a stored image signal. In response to a read signal
(unnumbered) produced by the CPU 35 under control of the operation
program and supplied through the I/O interface 36, the image memory
43 delivers the stored image back to the I/O interface 36 as the
input pattern signal 31.
In FIG. 1, a file 45 is for preliminarily memorizing a preselected
number K of feature point lists L1, . . . , and LK which are shown
in FIG. 4 and each of which is exemplified in FIG. 3. A keyboard 46
is for inputting an identification number representative of a
specific one of a feature point lists L1 to LK of the file 45 in
the collating unit 30 to make the work memory 33 memorize the
specific one of the feature point lists L1 to LK as the memorized
list. An output device 47 is for visually displaying a collation
result in response to the collation result signal 32.
Turning to FIG. 5 with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 continued,
description will proceed to operation of the streaked pattern
collating apparatus. At a first stage S1, the keyboard 46 is
operated by an operator to input the identification number in the
collating unit 30. When the CPU 35 receives the identification
number through the I/O interface 36, the CPU 35 reads from the file
45 a specific one of the feature point lists L1 to LK that is
designated by the identification number. The CPU 35 stores the
specific one of the feature point lists L1 to LK in the work memory
33. As a result, the work memory 33 memorizes the specific one of
the feature point lists L1 to LK as the memorized list as
exemplified in FIG. 3. The first stage S1 is followed by a second
stage S2.
At the second stage S2, the CPU 35 delivers the read signal to the
image memory 43 through the I/O interface 36 to make the image
memory 43 deliver the input pattern signal 31 back to the CPU 35
through the I/O interface 36. That is, the CPU 35 takes in the
input pattern signal 31.
At a third stage S3 which follows the second stage S2, the CPU
reads a particular one of the memorized positions from the work
memory 33 as a read-out feature position. The particular one of the
memorized positions corresponds to a particular one of the
reference feature points M1 to MN. Simultaneously, the CPU 35 reads
a particular one of the memorized directions from the work memory
33 as a read-out streak direction. The particular one of the
memorized directions corresponds to the particular one of the
reference feature points M1 to MN. When the particular one of the
reference feature points M1 to MN is the reference feature point
M1, the CPU 35 reads the reference feature position (X1,Y1) and the
reference streak direction D1 from the work memory 33.
Thus, the CPU 35 serves at the third stage S3 as a reading section.
The reading section is connected to the work memory 33 for reading
from the work memory 33, as a read-out feature position, a
particular one of the memorized positions that corresponds to a
particular one of the reference feature points M1 to MN and for
reading from the work memory 33, as a read-out streak direction, a
particular one of the memorized streak directions that corresponds
to the particular one of the refrence feature points M1 to MN.
A fourth stage S4 succeeds the third stage S3. At the fourth stage
S4, the CPU 35 is supplied with the input pattern signal 31 and
extracts, as an extracted streak direction, a local streak
direction from a part of the input streaks that is included in a
local area defined by the read-out feature position in the input
streaked pattern.
Turning to FIG. 6 during a short while, the local area of the input
streaked pattern is depicted at a reference numeral 50 and has a
center point corresponding to the read-out feature position
depicted at another reference numeral 51. The streaks or ridges are
depicted in the local area 50 by hatched areas.
More specifically, the local area 50 has a rectangular shape
defined by the read-out streak direction indicated by an arrow 52.
That is, the local area 50 of a rectangular shape (which is
typically a square shape) has a pair of longitudinal boundary lines
53 and 54 and another pair of transverse boundary lines 55 and 56.
The longitudinal boundary lines 53 and 54 are parallel to each
other and are parallel to the read-out streak direction 52. The
transverse boundary lines 55 and 56 are parallel to each other and
are perpendicular to the read-out streak direction 52.
The local streak direction can be extracted as the extracted streak
direction from the local area 50 in the manner described in the
above-referred U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,827.
Turning further to FIG. 7, the extracted streak direction may be
extracted as an averaged direction d(ave) obtained by Equation (1)
hereunder:
In Equation (1), d represents and extracted streak direction
extracted from the above-defined local aerea 50 in the input
streaked pattern and d1, . . . , and d8 represents other extracted
streak directions extracted from adjacent local areas 61, . . . ,
and 68, respectively, which are defined adjacently of the local
area 50 in the input streaked pattern. Furthermore, a represents a
weight constant having a positive integer which is equal to, for
example, two. In addition, Q represents another integer which is
equal to eight plus the positive integer.
Reviewing FIG. 1, 5, and 6, the CPU 35 is operable at the fourth
stage S4 as a direction extracting section. Connected to the
reading section and supplied with the input pattern signal 31, the
direction extracting section extracts, as an extracter streak
direction, the local streak direction from the local area 50
defined by the read-out feature position 51 in the input streaked
pattern.
Turning back to FIG. 5 with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 continued, a
fifth stage S5 follows the fourth stage S4. At the fifth stage S5,
the CPU 35 compares the extracted streak direction with the
read-out streak direction 52 and produces direction coincidence and
direction non-coincidence signals representing coincidence and
non-coincidence between the extracted streak direction and the
read-out streak direction 52, respectively. In the meanwhile, the
CPU 35 produces the direction coincidence and the direction
non-coincidence signals when the extracted streak direction and the
read-out streak direction 52 form an angle which is not and is
greater than a prescribed angle.
Thus, the CPU 35 serves at the fifth stage S5 as a direction
comparing section. Connected to the reading and the direction
extracting sections, the direction comparing section compares the
extracted streak direction with the read-out streak direction 52 to
produce direction coincidence and direction non-coincidence signals
representing coincidence and non-coincidence between the extracted
streak direction and the read-out streak direction 52. More
exactly, the direction comparing section produces the direction
coincidence and the direction non-coincidence signals when the
extracted streak direction and the read-out streak direction 52
form the angle which is not and is greater than the prescribed
angle.
When the direction coincidence signal is produced at the fifth
stage S5, the fifth stage S5 is succeeded by a sixth stage S6 which
will presently be described. When the direction non-coincidence
signal is produced at the fifth stage S5, the fifth stage S5 is
succeeded by a different subsequent stage which will later be
described.
With reference to FIGS. 1, 5, and 6 continued, description will now
be made as regards operation of the CPU 35 at the sixth stage S6.
At the sixth stage S6, the CPU 35 is supplied with the input
pattern signal 31 and confirms, in response to the direction
coincidence signal, whether or not a particular one of the input
feature points is present in the local area 50. The CPU 35 thereby
produces presence confirmed and presence non-confirmed signals
representing presence and absence of the particular one of the
input feature points in the local area 50. In the example being
illustrated in FIG. 6, an abrupt ending 69 is confirmed in the
local area 50 as the particular one of the input feature
points.
In this event, the CPU 35 scans the local area 50 along a plurality
of scanning lines depicted by parallel lines with arrowheads, seven
of which are designated by reference numerals 55, 61' to 65', and
56 in FIG. 6. The scanning lines are perpendicular to the read-out
streak direction 52. By scanning the local area 50 along the
scanning lines 61' to 65', the CPU 35 obtains scanned data 71 to 75
shown in FIG. 8. In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the abrupt
ending 69 (FIG. 6) is confirmed at a scanned data portion 76.
Reviewing FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, the CPU 35 is operable at the sixth
stage S6 as a confirming section. Connected to the reading and the
direction comparing section and supplied with the input pattern
signal 31, the confirming section confirms, in response to the
direction coincidence signal, whether or not a particular one of
the input feature points is present in the local area 50. The
confirming section thereby produces presence confirmed and presence
non-cofirmed signals representing presence and absence of the
particular one of the input feature points in the local area
50.
When the presence confirmed signal is produced at the sixth stage
S6, the sixth stage S6 is followed by a seventh stage S7 which will
presently be described. When the presence non-confirmed signal is
produced at the sixth stage S6, the sixth stage S6 is followed by
the different subsequent stage which will later be described.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5 continued, description will now be
made as regards operation of the CPU 35 at the seventh stage S7. At
the senventh stage S7, the CPU 35 has a primary initial count equal
to zero and counts up the primary initial count to a primary
increased count whenever the presence confirmed signal is produced.
The CPU 35 thereby produces a primary count signal representative
of the primary increased count.
Thus, the CPU 35 serves at the seventh stage S7 as a primary
counting section. The primary counting section is connected to the
confirming section and has the primary initial count equal to zero
for counting up the primary initial count to the primary increased
count whenever the presence confirmed signal is produced. The
primary counting section produces the primary count signal
representative of the primary increased count. The seventh stage S7
is succeeded by an eighth stage S8.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5 continued, description will now be
made as regards operation of the CPU 35 at the eighth stage S8. At
the eighth stage S8, the CPU 35 has a primary threshold value and
compares the primary increased count with the primary threshold
value. The primary threshold value is greater than the primary
initial count and is not greater than the predetermined number N of
reference feature points Ml ro MN (FIG. 3). The CPU 35 produces
first and second primary compared result signals when the primary
increased count is and is not less than the primary threshold
value, respectively.
Thus, the CPU 35 is operable at the eighth stage S8 is a primary
count comparing section connected to the primary counting section.
The primary count comparing section has the primary threshold value
which is greater than the primary initial count and is not greater
than the predetermined number N of reference feature points Ml to
MN (FIG. 3). The primary count comparing section compares the
primary increased count with the primary threshold value to produce
first and second primary compared result signals when the primary
increased count is and is not less than the primary threshold
value, respectively.
When the first primary compared signal is produced at the eighth
stage S8, the eighth stage S8 is followed by the different
subsequent stage which will later be described. When the second
primary compared signal is produced at the eighth stage S8, the
eighth stage S8 is followed by a ninth stage S9 which will be
described below.
At the ninth stage S9, the CPU 35 produces, in response to the
second primary compared result signal, the collation coincidence
signal and delivers, as the collation result signal 32, the
collation coincidence signal to the output device 47 through the
I/O interface 36.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, description will proceed to
operation of the CPU 35 at a tenth stage S10 which is referred to
above as the different subsequent stage. At the tenth stage S10,
the CPU 35 judges, in response to each of the direction
non-coincidence signal, the presence non-confirmed signal, and the
first primary compared result signal, whether or not all of the
memorized positions for all reference feature points Ml to MN and
all of the memorized directions for all reference feature points Ml
to MN are already read from the work memory 33. The CPU 35 thereby
produces an end signal and non-end signal when all of the momorized
positions and all of the momorized directions are already read and
are not yet read from the work memory 33, respectively.
Thus, the CPU 35 serves at the tenth stage S10 as a primary judging
section connected to the work memory 33 and the reading, the
direction comparing, the confirming, and the primary count
comparing sections. The primary judging section judges, in response
to each of the direction non-coincidence signal, the presence
non-confirmed signal, and the first primary compared result signal,
whether or not all of the memorized positions and all of the
memorized directions are already read from the work memory 33. The
primary judging section produces the end signal and the non-end
signal when all of the memorized positions and all of the memorized
directions are already read and are not yet read from the memory
33, respectively.
When the signal is produced at the tenth stage S10, the tenth stage
S10 is succeeded by an eleventh state S11. At the eleventh stage
S11, the CPU 35 produces, in response to the end signal, the
collation non-coincidence signal and delivers, as the collation
result signal 32, the collation non-coincidence signal to the
output device 47 through the I/O interface 36.
When the non-end signal is produced at the tenth stage S10, the
tenth stage S10 returns bace to the third stage S3. At the third
state S3, the CPU 35 is also responsive to the non-end signal to
read from the work memory 33, at the read-out feature position, a
different one of the memorized positions and to read from the work
memory 33, as the read-out streak direction, a different one of the
memorized directions. Each of the different one of the memorized
positions and the different one of the memorized directions
corresponds to the different one of the reference feature points M1
to MN.
Thus, the reading section is also responsive to the non-end signal
for reading from the work memory 33, as the read-out feature
position, the different one of the memorized positions that
corresponds to the different one of the reference feature points M1
to MN and for reading from the work memory 33, as the read-out
streak direction, the different one of the memorized directions
that corresponds to the different one of the reference feature
points M1 to MN.
Turning to FIG. 9 with reference to FIG. 1 continued, first and
other subsidiary stages SS1 and so forth are substituted for the
tenth staged S10 illustrated in FIG. 5 in a different mode of
operation of the CPU 35. At the first subsidiary state SS1, the CPU
35 has a secondary initial count equal to zero and counts up the
secondary initial count to a secondary increased count whenever
each of the direction non-coincidence signal and the presence
non-confirmed signal is produced. The CPU 35 thereby produces a
secondary count signal representative of the secondary increased
count.
Thus, the CPU 35 serves at the first subsidiary statges SS1 as a
secondary counting section which is connected to the direction
comparing and the confirming sections and which has the secondary
initial count equal to zero. The secondary counting section counts
up the secondary initial count to the secondary increased count
whenever each of the direction non/coincidence signal and the
presence non-confirmed signal is produced. The secondary counting
section thereby produces the secondary count signal representative
of the secondary increased count.
At a second subsidiary stage SS2 which follows the first subsidiary
stage SS1, the CPU 35 has a secondary threshold value and compares
the secondary increased count with the secondary threshold value.
The secondary threshold value is greater than the secondary initial
count and is not greater than the predetermined number N of feature
points M1 to MN (FIG. 3). The CPU 35 thereby produces first and
second secondary compared result signals when the scondary
increased count is and is not less than the secondary thereshold
value, respectively. The second secondary compared result signal is
produced as the collation non-coincidence signal at the eleventh
stage S11.
Thus, the CPU 35 is operable at the second subsidiary stage SS2 as
a secondary count comparing section which is connected to the
secondary counting section and has a secondary thereshold value.
The secondary count comparing section compares the secondary
increased count with the secondary threshold value. The secondary
threshold value is greater than the secondary initial count and is
not greater than the predetermined number N of feature points M1 to
MN. The secondary count comparing section thereby produces first
and second secondary compared result signals when the secondary
increased count is and is not less than the secondary thereshold
value, respectively. The second secondary compared result signal is
for use as the collation non-coincidence signal.
At a third subsidiary stage SS3 which succeeds the second
subsidiary stage SS2, the CPU judges, in response to any one of the
first primary and the first secondary compared result signals,
whether or not all of the memorized positions and all of the
memorized directions are already read from the work memory 33. The
CPU 35 produces the end signal and non-end siganl when all of the
memorized positions and all of the memorized directions are already
read and are not yet read from the work memory 33,
respectively.
Thus, the CPU 35 serves at the third subsidiary stage SS3 as a
secondary judging section. Connected to the secondary count
comparing section, the secondary judging section judges, in
response to the first secondary compared result signal, whether or
not all of the memorized positions and all of the memorized
directions are already read from the work memory 33. The secondary
judging section thereby produces the end signal and the non-end
signal when all of the memorized positions and all of the memorized
directions are already read and are not yet read from the work
memory 33, respectively.
Turning to FIG. 10 with reference to FIG. 1 continued, description
will proceed to another operation of the streaked pattern collating
apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 10, twelfth and thirteenth
stages S12 and S13 are substituted for the first and the third
stages S1 and S3 illustrated in FIG. 5, respectively. A combination
of fourteenth and fifteenth stages S14 and S15 is substituted for
the tenth stage S10 illustrated in FIG. 5.
At the twelfth stage S12, the CPU 35 stores in the work memory 33
another feature point list exemplified in FIG. 11. That is, the
work memory 33 illustrated in FIG. 11 memorizes the memorized
positions, the memorized directions, and adjacent ones A1, . . . ,
and AN of the reference feature points M1 to MN as memorized
adjacent feature points in correspondence to the reference feature
points M1 to MN. The adjacent one A1 to AN of the reference feature
points M1 to MN are nearest to the reference feature points M1 to
MN, respectively.
As the thirteenth stage S13, the CPU 35 reads from the work memory
33 the particular one of the memorized points as the read-out
feature position, the particular one of the memorized directions as
the read-out streak direction, and a particular one of the
memorized adjacet feature points as a read-out adjacent feature
point. The particular one of the memorized adjacent feature points
corresponds to the particular one of the reference feature points
M1 to MN.
Thus, the CPU 35 acts at the thirteenth stage S13 as the reading
section. In this case, the reading section reads from the work
memory 33 the particular one of the memorized points as the
read-out feature position, the particular one of the memorized
directions as the read-out streak direction, and the particular one
of the memorized adjacent feature points as the read-out adjacent
feature point. The particular one of the memorized adjacent feature
points corresponds to the particular one of the reference feature
points M1 to MN.
At the fourteenth stage S14, the CPU 35 judges, in response to each
of the direction non-coincidence signal and the presence
non-confirmed signal, whether or not all of the memorized positions
and all of the memorized directions are already read from the work
memory 33. The CPU 35 thereby produces the end signal and the
non-end signal when all of the memorized positions and all of the
memorized directions are already read and are not yet read from the
work memory 33, respectively.
At the fifteenth stage S15, The CPU 35 judges, in response to the
first primary compared result signal, whether or not all of the
memorized positions and all of the memorized directions are already
read from the work memory 33. The CPU 35 thereby produces the end
signal and an adjacent point indication signal (which may briefly
be called a point indication signal) indicative of a specific one
of the reference feature points M1 to MN (FIG. 11) when all of the
memorized positions and all of the memorized directions are already
read and are not yet read from the work memory 33, respectively.
The specific one of the reference feature points M1 to MN
corresponds to the read-out adjacent feature point.
Thus, the CPU 35 serves at a combination of the fourteenth and the
fifteenth stages S14 and S15 as the above-mentioned primary judging
section. In this case, the primary judging section produces, as the
non-end signal, the point indication signal indicative of the
specific one of the reference feature points M1 to MN when the
judging section judges in response to the first compared result
signal that all of the memorized positions and all of the memorized
directions are not yet read from the work memory. The specific one
of the reference feature points M1 to MN corresponds to the
read-out adjacent feature point.
At the thirteenth stage S13, the CPU 35 is responsive to the
adjacent point indication signal and reads from the work memory 33,
as the different one of the memorized positions, a specific one of
the memorized positions that corresponds to the specific one of the
reference feature points M1 to MN. Simulaneously, the CPU 35 reads
from the work memory 33, as the different one of the memorized
directions, a specific one of the memorized directions that
corresponds to the specific one of the reference feature points M1
to MN. Furthermore, the CPU 35 reads from the work memory 33 to a
specific one of the memorized adjacent feature points that
corresponds to the specific one of the reference feature points M1
to MN. The CPU 35 thereby produces the specific one of the
memorized positions, the specific one of the memorized directions,
and the specific one of the memorized adjacent feature points as
the read-out feature position, the read-out streak direction, and
the read-out adjacent feature point, respectively.
Thus, the CPU 35 acts at the thirteenth stage S13 as the reading
section which is responsive to the point indication signal for
reading from the work memory 33, as the different one of the
memorized positions, the specific one of the memorized positions
that corresponds to the specific one of the reference feature
points Ml to MN, for reading from the work memory 33, as the
different one of the memorized directions, the specific one of the
memorized directions that corresponds to the specific one of the
reference feature points Ml to MN, and for reading from the work
memory 33 the specific one of the memorized adjacent feature points
that corresponds to the specific one of the reference feature
points Ml to MN. The reading section thereby produces the specific
one of the memorized positions, the specific one of the memorized
directions, and the specific one of the memorized adjacent feature
points as the read-out feature position, the read-out streak
direction, and the read-out adjacent feature points,
respectively.
Turning to FIG. 12 with reference to FIG. 1 continued, description
will proceed to still another operation of the streaked pattern
collating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 12, sixteenth
and seventeenth stages S16 and S17 are substituted for the first
and the third stages S1 and S3 illustrated in FIG. 5, respectively.
In addition, an eighteenth stage 18 is inserted between the sixth
and the seventh stages S6 and S7 illustrated in FIG. 5.
At the sixteenth stage S16, the CPU 35 stores in the work memory 33
still another feature list exemplified in FIG. 13. That is, the
work memory 33 illustrated in FIG. 13 memorizes the memorized
positions, the memorized directions, and adjacent positions
(xl,yl), . . . , and (xN,yN) of adjacent ones of the reference
feature points Ml to MN as memorized adjacent positions in
correspondence to the reference feature points Ml to MN. The
adjacent ones of the reference feature points Ml to MN are nearest
to the reference feature points Ml to MN, respectively.
At the seventeenth stage S17, the CPU 35 reads from the work memory
33, as a read-out feature position, a particular one of the
memorized positions that corresponds to a particular one of the
reference feature points Ml to MN. Simultaneously, the CPU 35 reads
from the work memory 33, as a read-out streak direction, a
particular one of the memorized directions that corresponds to the
particular one of the reference feature points Ml to MN.
Furthermore, the CPU 35 reads from the work memory 33, as a
read-out adjacent position, a particular one of the memorized
adjacent positions that corresponds to the particular one of the
reference feature points Ml to MN.
Thus, the CPU 35 serves at the seventeenth stage S17 as a reading
section connected to the work memory 33. The reading section is for
reading from the work memory 33, as the read-out feature position,
the particular one of the memorized positions that corresponds to
the particular one of the reference feature points, Ml to MN for
reading from the work memory 33, as the read-out streak direction,
the particular one of the memorized directions that corresponds to
the particular one of the reference feature points Ml to MN, and
for reading from the work memory 33, as the read-out adjacent
position, the particular one of the memorized adjacent positions
that corresponds to the particular one of the reference feature
points Ml to MN.
As mentioned with reference to FIG. 5, the CPU 35 acts at the sixth
stage S6 as a first confirming section connected to the reading and
the direction comparing sections and supplied with the input
pattern signal 31. The first confirming section confirms, in
response to the direction coincidence signal, whether or not a
particular one of the input feature points is present in the local
area. The first confirming section produces first presence
confirmed and first presence non-confirmed signals representing
presence and absence of the particular one of the input feature
points in the local area.
At the eighteenth stage 18 depicted in FIG. 12, the CPU 35
confirms, in response to the first presence confirmed signal,
whether or not a different one of the input feature points is
present in a different local area defined by the read-out adjacent
position in the input streaked pattern. The CPU 35 thereby produces
second presence confirmed and second presence non-confirmed signals
representing presence and absence of the different one of the input
feature points in the different local area.
Thus, the CPU 35 is operable at the eighteenth stage S18 as a
second confirming section which is connected to the reading and the
first confirming sections. Supplied with the input pattern signal
31, the second confirming section confirms, in response to the
first presence confirmed signal, whether or not the different one
of the input feature points is present in the different local area
defined by the read-out adjacent position. The second confirming
section thereby produces second presence confirmed and second
presence non-confirmed signals representing presence and absence of
the different one of the input feature points in the different
local area.
At the seventh stage S7, the primary counting section is connected
to the second confirming section for counting up the primary
initial count to a primary increased count whenever the second
presence confirmed signal is produced. The primary counting section
thereby produces the primary count signal representative of the
primary increased count like in the primary counting section
illustrated in FIG. 5.
At the tenth stage S10, the primary judging section is also
connected to the second confirming section. The primary judging
section judges, in response to each of the direction
non-coincidence signal, the first and the second presence
non-confirmed signals, and the first primary compared result
signal, whether or not all of the memorized positions and all of
the memorized directions are already read from the work memory 33.
The primary judging section thereby produces the end signal and the
non-end signal when all of the memorized positions and all of the
memorized directions are already read and are not yet read from the
work memory 33, respectively.
Turning to FIG. 14 with reference to FIG. 1 continued, description
will proceed to a different operation of the streaked pattern
collating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 14, nineteenth
and twentieth stages S19 and S20 are substituted for the sixteenth
and seventeenth stages S16 and S17 illustrated in FIG. 12. In
addition, twenty-first and twenty-second stages S21 and S22 are
inserted between the eighteenth and the seventh stages S18 and S7
illustrated in FIG. 12.
At the nineteenth stage S19, the CPU 35 stores in the work memory
33 a still another feature list exemplified in FIG. 15. That is,
the work memory 33 memorizes in FIG. 15 the memorized positions,
the memorized directions, and the memorized adjacent positions, and
local reference streak numbers Rl, . . . , and RN as memorized
numbers in correspondence to the reference feature points Ml to MN.
Each of the local reference numbers Rl, . . . , and RN represents
the number of local reference streaks between each of the reference
feature points Ml to MN and one of the adjacent ones of the
reference feature points Ml to MN that corresponds to the reference
feature point in question.
At the twelfth stage S20, the CPU 35 reads from the work memory 33,
as a read-out feature position, a particular one of the memorized
positions that corresponds to a particular one of the reference
feature points Ml to MN. Simultaneously, the CPU 35 reads from the
work memory 33, as a read-out streak direction, a particular one of
the memorized directions that corresponds to the particular one of
the reference feature points Ml to MN. Furthermore, the CPU 35
reads from the work memory 33, as a read-out adjacent position, a
particular one of the memorized adjacent positions that corresponds
to the particular one of the reference feature points Ml to MN.
Furthermore, the CPU 35 reads from the work memory 33, as a
read-out local reference streak number, a particular one of the
memorized numbers that corresponds to the particular one of the
reference feature points Ml to MN.
Thus, the CPU 35 serves at the twentieth stage S20 as a reading
section connected to the work memory 33. The reading section is for
reading from the work memory 33, as a read-out feature position, a
particular one of the memorized positions that corresponds to a
particular one of the reference feature points Ml to MN, for
reading from the work memory 33, as a read-out streak direction, a
particular one of the memorized directions that corresponds to the
particular one of the reference feature points Ml to MN, for
reading from the work memory 33, as a read-out adjacent position, a
particular one of the memorized adjacent positions that corresponds
to the particular one of the reference feature points Ml to MN, and
for reading from the work memory 33, as a read-out local reference
streak number, a particular one of the memorized numbers that
corresponds to the particular one of the reference feature points
Ml to MN.
At the twenty-first stage S21 which follows the eighteenth stage
S18, the CPU 35 extracts in response to the second presence
confirmed signal, as an extracted local input streak number, the
number of local input streaks between the particular one of the
input feature points and the different one of the input feature
points in the input streaked pattern.
Thus, the CPU 35 acts at the twenty-first stage S21 as a number
extracting section. Connected to the reading and the second
confirming sections and supplied with the input pattern signal 31,
the number extracting section extracts in response to the second
presence confirmed signal, as an extracted local input streak
number, the number of local input streaks between the particular
one of the input feature points and the different one of the input
feature points in the input streaked pattern.
At the twenty-second stage S22 which follows the twenty-first stage
S21, the CPU 35 compares the extracted local input streak number
with the read-out local reference streak number to produce number
coincidence and number non-coincidence signals representing
coincidence and non-coincidence between the detected local input
streak number and the read-out local reference streak number.
Thus, the CPU 35 serves at the twenty-second stage S22 as a number
comparing section connected to the reading and the extracting
sections. The number comparing section compares the extracted local
input streak number with the read-out local reference streak number
to produce number coincidence and number non-coincidence signals
representing coincidence and non-coincidence between the extracted
local input streak number and the read-out local reference streak
number.
At the seventh stage S7 subsequent to the twenty-second stage S22,
the primary counting section is connected to the number comparing
section for counting up the primary initial count to the primary
increased count whenever the number coincidence signal is produced.
The primary counting section thereby produces the primary count
signal representative of the primary increased count like in the
primary counting section illustrated in FIG. 12.
At the tenth stage S10, the primary judging section is
additionarily connected to the number comparing section. The
primary judging section judges, in response to each of the
direction non-coincidence signal, the first and the second presence
non-confirmed signals, the number non-coincidence signal, and the
first primary compared result signal, whether or not all of the
memorized positions and all of the memorized directions are already
read from the work memory 33. The primary judging section thereby
produces the end signal and the non-end signal when all of the
memorized positions and all of the memorized directions are already
read and are not yet read from the work memory 33,
respectively.
While this invention has thus far been described in specific
conjunction with a single preferred embodiment thereof and with
various modes or manners of operation of the collating unit 30, it
will now be readily possible for one skilled in the art to carry
this invention into effect in various other ways. Above all, it is
possible to combine the various modes of operation in any possible
ways. Typically, the subsidiary stages SS1 to SS3 of FIG. 9 are
effective in raising correctness and precision of collation when
used in the operation illustrated with reference to each of FIGS.
10, 12, and 14. When the subsidiary stages SS1 to SS3 of FIG. 9 are
used in the operation illustrated with reference to FIG. 12, the
secondary counting section carries out counting up at the first
subsidiary stage SS1 whenever each of the direction non-coincidence
signal, the first presence non-confirmed signal, and the second
presence non-confirmed signal which is produced at the eighteenth
stage S18 of FIG. 12. This is indicated in FIG. 9 by a broken line
with an arrowhead. When the subsidiary stages SS1 to SS3 of FIG. 9
are used in the operation illustrated with reference to FIG. 14,
the secondary counting section carries out counting up at the first
subsidiary stage SS1 whenever each of the direction non-coincidence
signal, the first presence non-confirmed signal, and the second
presence non-confirmed and the number non-coincidence signals which
are produced at the eighteenth and the twenty-second stages S18 and
S22 of FIG. 14. This is indicated in FIG. 9 by broken lines, each
with an arrowhead.
The file 45 may preferably be loaded with the reference feature
positions, the reference streak directions, the adjacent positions
of adjacent ones of the reference feature points, and the local
reference streak numbers of various reference streaked patterns. In
this event, it is possible to use the keyboard 46 in selecting one
of the various reference streaked patterns as a selected streaked
pattern for use in collation and in selecting a selected one of a
first combination of the reference feature positions and the
reference streak directions, a second combination of the first
combination plus the adjacent positions, a third combination of the
second combination plus the local reference streak numbers, and a
like combination in the selected streaked pattern for use in
storage of the selected one of the combinations in the work memory
33 in the manner described in connection with FIGS. 3, 11, 13, and
15. The adjacent ones of the reference feature points need not be
the nearest ones. Instead, such an adjacent feature point adjacent
to a reference feature point in a reference streaked pattern may be
related in a predetermined manner to one of the reference feature
points to which attention is directed. When it is unnecessary to
select the selected one of the combinations and moreover when a
fingerprint of an unknown person should be collated with file
fingerprints kept in the file or files 45, the streaked pattern
collating apparatus need not comprise the keyboard 46. The program
memory 34 should, however, be used under the circumstances in
selecting one of the file fingerprints at a time until the
collation coincidence signal is obtained.
Incidentally, the predetermined number of reference feature points
is determined in consideration of primarily the correctness and
precision of collation and secondarily the number of input feature
points which are actually available in the input streaked pattern.
Usually, it is sufficient to use about thirty reference feature
points. The prescribed angle, as recited in some of the appended
claims, may be an eighth of 360.degree. in the manner which will be
understood from FIG. 7. For quicker collation, the prescribed angle
may be a quarter of 360.degree.. When very precise collation is
desired, it is preferred to use 360.degree./256.degree. as the
prescribed angle. Such a prescribed angle can be selected by
controlling the program memory 34 through the keyboard 46.
* * * * *